n. (pl. -ies) 1 conceit and desire for admiration of one's personal attainments or attractions. 2 a futility or unsubstantiality (the vanity of human achievement). b an unreal thing. 3 ostentatious display. 4 US a dressing-table. vanity bag (or case) a bag or case carried by a woman and containing a small mirror, make-up, etc. Vanity Fair the world (allegorized in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress) as a scene of vanity. vanity unit a unit consisting of a wash-basin set into a flat top with cupboards beneath.
[ ME f. OF vanité f. L vanitas -tatis (as VAIN) ]